Fundación Cethus, a non-governmental organization, was created in 1992 by a group of researchers and specialists focused on diverse disciplines with the aim of researching, spreading information and conserving the dolphins and whales of the Argentine Sea. Some of the 38 that live in the Argentine territorial sea are studied by Cethus: southern right whale, Peale’s dolphin, La Plata river dolphin, Commerson’s dolphin, orca, Burmeister’s Porpoise, and dusky dolphin. Cethus offers an Environmental Education Program, oriented towards people of all ages and focused on the young, whose enthusiasm attracts the adults. This Program not only considers cetaceans, but also shows the human being in the marine environment. Training human resources on different disciplines is basic for Cethus, and this is why they have signed exchange and training agreements with local and international institutions.
Fundación Vida Silvestre Argentina (FVSA) is a private (non-governmental), public welfare, non-profit organization created in 1977. Its mission is to promote the conservation of biological diversity and Argentine natural resources, to change consuming trends that affect them and to support sustainable development. Its current staff of 30 professionals come from diverse disciplines: teachers, biologists, museologists, park rangers, geographers, lawyers, accountants, communication experts, agriculture and forestry engineers, etc. More than 150 volunteers collaborate in communication tasks, information classification, scientific campaigns and the organization of scientific meetings. Since 1998, FVSA is associated and represents in Argentina the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the largest conservationist network in the world. It works together with more than 70 local and foreign institutions (government agencies, international organisms and NGOs).
Greenpeace is an independent international organization that uses non-violence and confrontation to highlight and find a solution to global environmental problems. All its actions are supported by members, citizens from all over the world. It does not accept any contributions from companies or governments. Greenpeace and the defense of whales: since 1975, when the Phyllis Cormack (the first Greenpeace ship) faced a soviet whaler ship, more than 30 years of campaigns against commercial whaling have passed. Greenpeace works in Latin America and the entire world to end commercial whaling and to promote the creation of protection and research areas, such as whale sanctuaries.
The Instituto de Conservación de Ballenas is a non-profit organization founded in Buenos Aires in 1996 to protect whales and their environment through research and education. It represents the Whale Conservation Institute / Ocean Alliance in Argentina, a non-profit organization founded in 1971 by Dr. Roger Payne in the United States. ICB grounds its research activities on the Southern Right Whale Program, directed by Victoria Rowntree together with Dr. Mariano Sironi. This Program is currently the longest research project on a baleen whale, based on the photoidentification of known individuals. Scientific information is used in local and regional cetacean conservation programs and in educational programs coordinated by Diego Taboada and Roxana Schteinbarg.
CEMAR (Centro de Estudos para a Conservação Marinha) is a non-profit, non-governmental organization. Its goal is to stimulate a harmonious relationship between human being and nature, contributing to the conservation of biodiversity and the management of conservation units and natural resources, promoting public awareness, and training new professionals, looking for a better access to a healthy, balanced, better quality environment for current and future generations. CEMAR’s actions promote solidarity, reciprocity and social inclusion, environmental sustainability and the establishment of societies that encourage social responsibility. At present, CEMAR develops three projects: Diving and Conservation, Environmental Education and Sustainable Tourism, and Bryde’s Whale Project, which will be strongly related to MardeCetáceos by developing researches on non-lethal use of Bryde's whale in marine protected areas.
In 1987, during the establishment of Abrolhos Marine National Park, a small Brazilian humpback whale population was discovered. Abrolhos was proposed as the main sanctuary of this species in Southwest Atlantic Ocean. Projeto Baleia Jubarte was created to promote research and the protection of these Brazilian mammals. Caravelas, a former whaling port in the Colonial Brazil, became the first base for a humpback whale conservation project in the country. First trips were conducted in 1988 to photograph humpback whales, together with the first efforts to study them from a land station in Abrolhos archipelago. In 1996 the project became the Instituto Baleia Jubarte, a non-governmental organization whose mission is the conservation of humpback whales and other Brazilian cetaceans, contributing to harmonize human activities with the preservation of the natural heritage, to benefit present and future generations.
Projeto Baleia Franca/Brasil started its activities in 1982, when a group of volunteers coordinated by Vice-Admiral Ibsen de Gusmão Câmara rediscovered a reproductive population of the species in the south of Brazil. Since 1986 it is managed by IWC/BRASIL, an institution dedicated to the conservation of threatened species and habitats (focused on marine and coastal environment) and the participation in the conception of public conservation policies. IWC/BRASIL and Projecto Baleia Franca/Brazil work together with similar Latin American organizations, to strengthen regional relationships and to promote common cetacean conservation policies.
Since its creation in 2001, the Centro de Conservación Cetácea (CCC) has became the most important organization in Chile in research, education, and strengthening of national policies related to the conservation and non-lethal use of marine mammals. For its reputation and professionalism CCC is officially sponsored by the Dirección General de Territorio Marítimo y Marina Mercante - DIRECTEMAR, the Foreign Affairs Ministry, and the Education Ministry. At present CCC develops three national and regional projects with the support of national authorities, leading regional organizations on research and conservation, and Chilean coastal communities: Proyecto Ballena Franca Austral/Chile (Southern Right Whale Project/Chile), Red de Avistamiento de Mamíferos Marinos de Chile (RAMMC - Chilean Marine Mammal Sighting Network), and Proyecto Alfaguara (blue whale). Results show that cooperative work between civil organizations, authorities and citizens is the best tool to reach conservation and community development goals promoted by CCC.
Fundación Yubarta is a Colombian non-governmental organization whose aim is to promote the conservation of fauna and flora species and its habitats, focusing on aquatic mammals, through research, education and management. It was created in 1991 to guarantee the continuity of the studies on humpback whale, started in 1986 in Gorgona Island, Colombia. Nowadays this work has a wider approach on subjects (structure, population dynamics, sustainable use) and geographic coverage (Colombian Pacific and Caribbean, Chilean Patagonia).
It has contributed to the conservation of aquatic mammals through scientific knowledge about biology and ecology of populations, effects of watching tourism on humpback whale (development of research projects and publications), education and creation of public awareness (training and consultantship on cetacean watching as a resource sustainable use, training of new professionals, participation and consultantship on documentaries, printed matter, conferences, exhibitions, Whale Adoption Program), and proposals of regulation and management (whale watching rules, basics for management plans on national parks).
Fundación Keto is a non-profit organization dedicated to studying the biology, management and conservation of cetaceans, marine turtles and manatees in Mesoamerica. With a team of young professionals, Fundación Keto aims to lead the marine conservation processes in the region working with coastal communities, integrating all sides of marine conservation and fauna. Due to deficient work in recent years, our work has focused on developing basic science on dolphins and whales. This allows us to develop conservation strategies together with all stakeholders, and the organization and implementation of education and marine public awareness work.
Promar is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, whose main goal is to achieve that people from Costa Rica respect the seas of the country and the world, and consider them as ecosystems which must be protected and used in sustainable ways, in the same way as tropical forests. We obtain large benefits from the ocean, a source of ecological stability on the planet due to its enormous biological diversity. Promar hopes for cetaceans to be considered as an integral part of our fauna and not as animals from far seas or aquariums, deserving a sustainable and non-lethal use by Costa Rican people. Its tools are environmental education, research, and participation in marine resources management and conservation processes in the country.
Fundación Ballenas del Pacífico is a pioneer organization in marine research. Since 1980 it has been dedicated to actively struggle against whaling and in favor of the moratorium. It is a non-profit organization dedicated to research, education and the conservation of marine resources in the Pacific Ocean, searching for factors that could help and give alternatives for their survival. It has developed its efforts in sanctuaries and national parks in Hawaii, Australia, New Zealand, and Ecuador. The Ecuador Project, which began in 2001, supports research programs mainly on humpback whales, children environmental education, and training for naturalist guides, captains, and the local community.
FEMM is a non-governmental, non-profit organization, dedicated to scientific research, environmental education, and conservation of marine mammals in Ecuadorian waters. Among others, it has the following goals:
• To conduct the studies needed to a full understanding of the situation of the marine mammals in Ecuadorian waters, and the factors that could endanger their survival.
• To make the community aware of the ecological importance of marine mammals.
• To keep scientific and cultural contact with national and foreign individuals and institutions dedicated to research and conservation of aquatic and marine mammals.
• To conduct study and research needed for a real situation of conservation and management of the aquatic and marine mammals of Ecuador, advising governmental and private organizations on developing and establishing conservation and sustainable use laws, regulations, codes of conduct and other rules.
COMARINO is a non-profit civil association, made up of Mexican citizen commited to the conservation of marine life and experienced on environmental federal regulation on the Chamber of Deputees and the Senate of the Republic. It has an analytic approach with direct focus on environmental problems, with a high efficiency to raise public awareness on environmental issues, and national and international management of the information and research on marine conservation.
Ecología y Conservación de Ballenas, A. C., is a non-profit organization founded in Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico. Its goal is to carry out actions focused on research, protection, preservation, and conservation of the natural resources, particularly whales and their ecological environment.
IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare) works to improve wild and domestic animal welfare throughout the world, reducing commercial exploitation, protecting their habitats, and helping animals in suffering situations. It was founded in 1969 to fight against cruel seal commercial hunting in Canada. Currently it has offices in 15 countries.
IFAW aims to motivate people to avoid cruel practices against animals and to promote their welfare. It also cooperates with world leaders and legislators to support the development of conservationist public policies and animal protection laws to achieve an important progress in people and animal quality of life. IFAW organizes and conducts rescue and rehabilitation operations for animals affected by natural disasters or situations created by people. It also collaborates with local communities all over the world, to preserve areas and regions which are crucial for the habitats, promoting economically sustainable alternatives to commercial exploitation of wildlife, and supports animal sanctuaries in the world.
One of the main campaigns by IFAW is to stop commercial exploitation of whales, and to promote whale watching as a humane and ecologically sustainable alternative to help communities to obtain economic benefits.
The Comité Ballena Azul was created in 2005, when a group of college students knew the situation on whaling and the way the Nicaraguan Government took part in the International Whaling Commission. They created a campaign committee to make the university community known about this situation. After that, they reached the general public, starting the interest of the media and other environmental organizations.
After two months the committee joined more than 200 youths together to participate in a campaign against whaling, through Internet actions and other activities. To create impact on society they begun to work in the organization of massive activities, like the Primer Festival de la Tierra (First Earth Festival, on the Day of the Earth), together with other environmental organizations as Eco X, Centro Humboldt, and Fauna & Flora International. The Committee was in charge of the organization of a concert for whales, by the most popular band among youth -ten of youths were there. After that, the campaign had a social demand approach, looking for a government response about revising its participation in the IWC. It is important to mention than the campaign was mainly reinforced by the alliance with the media and other environmental organizations.
Mundo Azul works for the conservation of the marine-coastal area and the sustainable use of the natural resources at the national level, in four main aspects: scientific research, environmental education, conservation, and sustainable development.
It works mainly on conservation and research on cetaceans, sea birds, sea lions, and otters, the conservation of wetlands, the creation of marine protected areas, and supporting marine biodiversity, sustainable fishing, against pollution, on ecotourism, and political lobbying.
It performs actions against illegal cetacean hunting for human consumption in Peru –through undercover investigations–, training policemen and helping to arrest sellers. It also promotes the creation of a sustainable whale watching ecotourism, cooperating with local fishing communities.
It researches dolphin populations between Lima and Asia Island (63 miles) and between Paracas y Tambo de Mora (25 miles), and it is planning to study other cetacean populations and species along the Peruvian coast and forest.
Founded in 1995 ACOREMA (Áreas Costeras y Recursos Marinos - Coastal Areas and Marine Resources) is a non-profit Peruvian institution dedicated to the research and conservation of marine and coastal resources, focusing on marine biodiversity. We study the situation of endangered species through field research, and propose possible solutions, trying to integrate them with the local community.
Objectives:
• To research and conserve natural resources and coastal areas.
• To encourage civil participation in the creation, implementation, and development of sustainable activities.
• To sensitize the different actors involved in the conservation problems of the coastal marine biodiversity and the alternatives for mitigation.
ACOREMA has received the following recognitions for its efforts on marine biodiversity conservation, especially on endangered species:
“CAMBIE 2003 a la Conservación Ambiental” National Award - category: Conservation of Coastal and Marine Areas and Hydrobiological Resources.
2004 National Recognition for the Development of Actions for the Conservation of Biological Diversity. Awarded by CONAM (Consejo Nacional de Ambiente - Environment National Council).
The non-profit Organización para la Conservación de Cetáceos – OCC starts its activities after finishing basic descriptive studies of habitat use (for reproductive purposes) of the southern right whale in the coasts of Uruguay. Besides conservation-applied basic research, its goals include environmental education and public awareness.
In 2000, OCC (Uruguay) begun to formally promote education and public awareness programs intended to the effective conservation of southern right whales and their coastal marine habitat. It organizes the Whale Week every year, and the allegorical parades on the Right Whale Protection National Day. It also established the “Route of Whales” (“Ruta de las ballenas”) through 9 interpretation platforms (observation towers). It has promoted the Decree #261/02, which regulates whale watching. The southern right whale was declared “MERCOSUR whale” (2000). OCC intends to join regional efforts including natural, sociocultural and economic issues, as responsible and high quality whale watching.
CIC is a non-profit scientific institution founded in 2000, and dedicated to the systematic study of cetacean populations in Venezuelan waters. Focused on the northeast basin of the country, it works for the proper care of live and dead marine mammal strandings. It also promotes environmental education and scientific outreach programs in local communities, mainly in the States of Nueva Esparta and Anzoátegui. The CIC develops volunteer and professional practice programs with Venezuelan and foreign students, and professional training seminars. Its projects are authorized by the Oficina Nacional de Diversidad Biológica and the Dirección Nacional de Permisiones del Ministerio de Ambiente.
SEA VIDA is a Venezuelan non-governmental organization founded in 2001. Its mission is “to lead the process to incorporate marine fauna and habitat to the national conservation priorities, with an emphasis on marine mammals”. From the beginning, its vision has included to promote the creation and consolidation of “research groups working in a coordinate and proactive way along Venezuelan coast, generating scientific information and conservation options for the marine fauna and its habitat, with an emphasis on marine mammals”.
The main lines of actions include:
• Scientific research.
• Environmental education and conservation actions.
• Formation and training of human resources.
• Advisory and consulting services for third parties on baseline studies and environmental impact in off-shore development projects.
• Cetacean management and conservation.
• Design of the action plan for the conservation of Venezuelan aquatic mammals.
